The stock of Roper Technologies (NYSE:ROP, 30-year Financials) is believed to be modestly overvalued, according to GuruFocus Value calculation. GuruFocus Value is GuruFocus' estimate of the fair value at which the stock should be traded. It is calculated based on the historical multiples that the stock has traded at, the past business growth and analyst estimates of future business performance. If the price of a stock is significantly above the GF Value Line, it is overvalued and its future return is likely to be poor. On the other hand, if it is significantly below the GF Value Line,

Roper Technologies Inc. (ROP) has enjoyed growing confidence among the gurus for more than a year now:

In the third quarter, Ray Dalio (Trades, Portfolio)'s Bridgewater Associates added 143.53% to its position, while Jim Simons (Trades, Portfolio)' Renaissance Technologies added 119.09% and Joel Greenblatt (Trades, Portfolio) of Gotham Asset Management added 92.23%.

Chuck Akre (Trades, Portfolio) of Akre Capital Management added only 10.31%, but had the largest guru

Joel Greenblatt (Trades, Portfolio) introduced the investing world to the "Magic Formula" when he published his 2005 book, "The Little Book That Beats the Market." The idea behind the Magic Formula is to apply a simple mathematical formula to find profitable businesses that trade at bargain prices.

The formula ranks companies based on the combination of two metrics: earnings yield and return on capital. The earnings yield, which is defined as earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) divided by enterprise value, measures how much the company earns compared to how much the stock is valued by the

Akre Capital Management recently disclosed its portfolio updates for the third quarter of 2020, which ended on Sept. 30.

Chuck Akre (Trades, Portfolio) founded Akre Capital Management in 1989 and serves as the chairman and Chief Investment Officer of the firm. Headquartered in Middleburg, Virginia, the firm's portfolio management team invests in a small number of quality businesses run by good managers who reinvest their free cash flow wisely. These are the three components that make up the unique "three-legged stool" investment philosophy which the firm is known for sticking closely to.

Based on its investing principles,

The MS Global Franchise Fund (Trades, Portfolio), which is part of investment bank Morgan Stanley (MS), released its second-quarter portfolio earlier this week.

Managed by a nine-person team, the New York-based fund invests in high-quality companies from around the world in order to achieve long-term capital appreciation. It looks for companies that have resilient business franchises and growth potential.

With these criteria in mind, the fund entered one new position during the quarter, reduced 13 holdings and added to 17 other investments. Its most notable trades for the quarter included establishing a holding in Roper Technologies Inc.

According to GuruFocus, these stocks have reached their 52-week highs.

Roper reached the 52-week high of $440.90

Roper Technologies Inc. (ROP) is a diversified technology company that operates out of four segments: Application Software, Network Software & Systems, Measurement & Analytical Solutions and Process Technologies. The firm emphasizes acquiring asset-light, cash-generative businesses. Roper then reinvests this excess cash in businesses that yield incrementally higher rates of return. Roper has now rotated a majority of its business from legacy industrial products into technology software in mature, niche markets with large quantities of deferred revenue.

The price of

Shares of industrial products manufacturer 3M Co. (MMM) gained 3.5% in premarket trading on Tuesday after it reported strong first-quarter results.

The Saint Paul, Minnesota-based company, which is known for products spanning from Scotch tape and Post-It Notes to personal protection equipment like respirator masks, posted adjusted earnings of $2.16 per share, topping Refinitiv’s estimates of $2.03. Revenue grew 2.7% from the prior-year quarter to $8.1 billion, surpassing expectations of $7.91 billion.

In a statement, Chairman and CEO Mike Roman said the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has varied across its businesses.

“In

According to the GuruFocus All-in-One Screener, a Premium feature, as of March 12, the following guru-held companies are trading at a discount and have positive three- to five-year future earnings estimates.

Roper Technologies

Shares of Roper Technologies Inc. (ROP) were trading around $323.30 on Thursday.

The diversified technology company has a GuruFocus profitability rating of 9 out of 10.

Analysts project a three-year to five-year earnings growth rate of 11.67%. The return on equity of 20.9% and return on assets of 10.71% are outperforming 91% of companies in the industrial products industry.

The U.S. economy has come a long way since 1936, when Charlie Chaplin’s classic comedy Modern Times depicted industrialization as synonymous with modernity. Today’s economic drivers are more readily evoked by films like The Social Network, the 2010 movie about the genesis in a Harvard dorm of the global social network juggernaut Facebook. Most casual observers probably do not regard the United States as a major manufacturing powerhouse anymore.

Yet this perception is, simply put, wrong. It is true that manufacturing as a percentage of overall GDP has steadily declined over the decades, from more than 25% in the 1950s

According to the GuruFocus All-in-One Screener as of Wednesday, the following stocks have outperformed the Standard & Poor's 500 Index over the last 12 months.

Ross Stores Inc. (ROST) has a market cap of $36.91 billion. It has outperformed the S&P 500 by 15.04% over the past year.

Shares are trading with a price-earnings ratio of 23.54. According to the discounted cash flow calculator, the stock is undervalued by 13% at $103. The price is 34.40% above its 52-week low and 5.71% below its 52-week high.

The off-price apparel retailer has a profitability and

According to GuruFocus list of 52-week highs, several stocks have reached 52-week highs.

Global Payments Inc. (GPN) reached the 52-week high of $164.22

Spun off from National Data in 2001, Atlanta-based Global Payments provides payment processing services. Many of its customers are small and midsize merchants The company has expanded its presence in regions such as Europe and Asia.

The price of Global Payments shares has reached $164.22, which is 1.2% off the 52-week high of $166.13. The company has a market cap of $25.73 billion; its shares were traded around $164.22 with a price-earnings

Three long-term dividend payers announced quarterly dividends on June 17.

On July 15, Pegasystems Inc (PEGA) will pay a quarterly dividend of 3 cents per share to shareholders of record as of July 1. The ex-dividend date is scheduled for June 28.

Based on the closing share price of $70.51 on Monday, the payment generates a forward dividend yield of 0.17% versus the industry median of 1.79%. The forward dividend yield of Pegasystems is ranked lower than nearly 1,329 out of 1,375 companies that operate in the Software - Application industry.

The software company has regularly paid dividends since December

According to GuruFocus list of 52-week highs, these Guru stocks have reached their 52-week highs.

Roper Technologies Inc. (ROP) reached the 52-week high of $311.96

Roper Technologies Inc. is a diversified technology company. The firm offers industrial pumps, water meters, sensors, valves, control systems, highway tolling systems and SaaS brokerage for freight and food markets, digital imaging and software systems. Roper Technologies' portfolio splits more than 40 different businesses among four operating segments. Industrial Technology houses a collection of industrial pumps and water meters. Energy & Controls sells sensors, valves, process control systems and nondestructive measurement

According to the GuruFocus All-in-One Screener, the following stocks have high business predictability ratings and positive total returns over the past six months. At least five gurus are shareholders of these companies.

Roper Technologies Inc.

Roper Technologies Inc. (ROP) provides industrial pumps and related spare tools. It has a market cap of $28.49 billion. GuruFocus gave the company a business predictability rating of 5 out of five stars.

The stock has risen 7.3% since the beginning of the year and is trading with a price-earnings ratio of 27.92. The price has been as high as $292.97 and as

According to GuruFocus' list, these stocks have reached their 52-week highs.

Kite Pharma reached the 52-week high of $179.81

Kite Pharma Inc. (KITE) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. It is engaged in the development and commercialization of novel cancer immunotherapy products designed to harness the power of a patient's own immune system to eradicate cancer cells. In partnership with the National Cancer Institute through a cooperative research and development agreement, Kite is advancing a pipeline of proprietary product candidates, both chimeric antigen receptor and T-cell receptor products, targeting a wide range of cancer indications. The

According to GuruFocus' list, these stocks have reached their 52-week highs.

Sempra Energy reached the 52-week high of $116.39

Sempra Energy (SRE) is an energy services holding company that provides electric, natural gas and other energy products and services to its customers.

Sempra Energy serves one of the largest utility customer bases in the U.S., distributing natural gas and electricity in Southern California. SoCalGas and San Diego Gas & Electric distribute gas to more than 20 million customers. The company's non-California affiliates own and operate merchant renewable energy projects, LNG facilities and gas pipes

Chuck Akre (Trades, Portfolio) is the founder of Akre Capital Management LLC. He manages a portfolio composed of 31 stocks with a total value of $6.083 billion. During the first quarter the guru bought shares in the following stocks:

The position of Moody's Corp. (MCO) was raised by 21.87% with an impact of 1.88% on the portfolio.

The company provides credit ratings, credits and economic-related research, data and analytical tools, software solutions and related risk management services, quantitative credit risk measures, financial services training and certification services.

GuruFocus gives the stock

Roper Technologies (ROP) recently reported strong fourth-quarter results. The fourth quarter looked impressive with revenues increasing 7% and orders increasing 17% to a record $1.1 billion.

During the quarter, the company acquired two software companies ConstructConnect and Deltek which cost the company $3.4 billion. This decision was made since both the companies boast of recurring revenue and substantial cash.

Fourth-quarter performance

GAAP diluted earnings per share during the fourth quarter were $1.78.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $1.86.

GAAP revenue increased by 7% and was $1.011 billion.

GAAP adjusted revenue increased by 7% and was $1.018 billion.

Orders increased

According to financial research provider Morningstar, over the past 10 years, the S&P 500 has produced an average annual total return for investors of 5% per annum. Over the same period, the First Trust Water (FIW) exchange-traded fund has produced an average annualized return of 8%, outperforming the wider market by 3% per annum with an annual expense ratio of 0.57%. Granted, the First Trust Water ETF was not launched until May 2007, so these figures are out by a few months. Nonetheless, they do present a clear picture.

An ETF to beat the market

The First Trust

According to GuruFocus’ All-in-One Screener, the following stocks have high business predictability rating ratings. At least five gurus are shareholders.

SBA Communications Corp. (SBAC)

GuruFocus gives the company a business predictability rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. The stock price has risen by 10% during the last 12 months. It is an independent owner and operator of wireless communications tower structures, rooftops and other structures that support antennas for communication. Its business segments are site leasing and site development.

The stock is trading with a price-earnings (P/E) ratio of 129.51. The price has been as high as